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Actor Simon Pegg warns over banking Trojan Twitter hack

Malware that can 'shrink iPads' not altogether funny

Zombie movie star Simon Pegg was obliged to warn his followers after his Twitter feed was hacked to post links to malware.

Supposed links to a screensaver for Pegg's alien comedy Paul actually contained a Trojan horse. A Twitter update promoting the app was posted to Pegg's @simonpegg account inviting his 1.2 million followers to try out the software.

Fans quickly reported that the app had triggered anti-virus scanners. Pegg responded by warning fans to avoid the link which he said he did not post. The Shaun of the Dead and Spaced star blames hackers for the scam.

The Hot Fuzz star joked that the malware supposedly shrunk iPads to the size of iPhones, and vice versa. However, in reality, the malicious code is a Windows-only threat, identified by Sophos as VBBanker-A.

Pegg is the latest in a string of celebrities whose Twitter feed has been hacked for one reason or another. Previous victims include Ashton Kutcher, Britney Spears and British TV property show presenter Kirsty Allsopp. In other instances people in the public eye have claimed that their Twitter feed had been hacked in an attempt to cover up for their own ill-judged updates. Disgraced US congressman Anthony Weiner unsuccessfully attempted this "evil hackers did it" defence after he tweeted pictures of his crotch to various female acquaintances.

In cases where celebs are genuinely hacked, weak password security of one sort or another is usually behind the hack. ®